Arrested Bohemia Employees Reply to Spying Charges

ArmA III developer speaks out against accusations

Two employees from Bohemia Interactive, who were arrested on the Greek island of Lemnos last week, have released a statement defending their actions.

Pictured: Martin Pezlar (left) and Ivan BuchtaReuters

The statement, which was issued via Bohemia's official website, offers support to Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar, two employees who were arrested after allegedly taking photographs of a Greek air force base, purportedly as part of the research for upcoming military simulation game, ArmA III. Bohemia is now insisting this is not the case:

"Since last Sunday, when two Bohemia Interactive employees, were arrested on the Greek island of Lemnos, much speculation about what happened has circulated online. It's been rumoured that they entered restricted military areas or gathered photographic references of military bases in order to improve the visual fidelity of Arma 3, a PC game currently under development by our company.

"Far in advance of any formal charges - only hours after they were detained by the local police - many media outlets immediately suggested spying and, only one day later, specifically referenced Arma 3.

"Having travelled there, and after meeting personally with them both, as well as their lawyer who is fully acquainted with the Greek authority's investigation file in detail, we can assure you that these insinuations are completely false and without substance.

"These employees - our friends, Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar - visited the island as tourists. Their holiday was a product of their interest in the island, triggered by their work on Arma 3 over the past two years of development."

The statement also offered some details on ArmA III itself, which is set to be released in early 2013:

"The in-game Limnos [an in-game version of Lemnos] is close to completion, and it's far from an identical replication of the real place. It was heavily modified to fit the game's backstory, a purely fictional 2035 setting. It was rescaled to only 75 percent of the real island, and it does not attempt to display any real world military installations situated on the island of Lemnos."

Despite not entering any military areas, or taking any photographs to be used in ArmA III, Buchta and Pezlar are still being detained on the Greek island of Lesbos and could face up to 20 years in jail, if found guilty of spying. In a message to their families, they described their treatment by Greek police:

"The conditions are tough, but the people we meet treat us fairly and correctly. It is all a completely absurd misunderstanding that will certainly be quickly explained. We mainly think of you, our families; you have to stay calm and not to worry about us. We hope we will meet soon."